Wagah border ceremony
Encyclopedia
The Wagah
border closing 'lowering of the flags' ceremony was a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force
) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers
) have followed since 1959. This ceremony takes place every evening before sunset at the Wagah border, which as part of the Grand Trunk Road
was the only road link between these two countries before the opening of the Aman Setu in Kashmir
in 1999. The ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations flags, it is called the beating retreat border ceremony on the international level. One infantryman (Jawan
) stands at attention on each side of the gate. As the sun sets, the iron gate at the border is opened and the flags are lowered. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends with a retreat that involves a brusque handshake between soldiers from either side. The spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from both sides of the border, as well as international tourists.
In October 2010, Major General Yaqub Ali Khan of the Pakistan Rangers decided to end the ceremonial theatrics.
Wagah
Wagah is the only road border crossing between Pakistan and India , and lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the cities of Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India. Wagah itself is a village through which the controversial Radcliffe Line was drawn. The village was divided by independence in 1947...
border closing 'lowering of the flags' ceremony was a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers
Pakistan Rangers
The Pakistan Rangers are part of the Paramilitary forces of Pakistan, and consists of members of the Pakistan Army under the direct control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Pakistan Government. The Rangers are an internal security force with the prime objective to provide and maintain...
) have followed since 1959. This ceremony takes place every evening before sunset at the Wagah border, which as part of the Grand Trunk Road
Grand Trunk Road
The Grand Trunk Road also formerly known as Uttarapatha, Shah Rah-e-Azam or Sadak-e-Azam or Badshahi Sadak is one of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads...
was the only road link between these two countries before the opening of the Aman Setu in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
in 1999. The ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations flags, it is called the beating retreat border ceremony on the international level. One infantryman (Jawan
Jawan
Jawan refers to a young man in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and Punjabi. It can also refer to a "donkey" in the Bengali language. In the Indian subcontinent, it has additionally taken on the reference to an infantryman, and is used in much the same meaning as soldier in English...
) stands at attention on each side of the gate. As the sun sets, the iron gate at the border is opened and the flags are lowered. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends with a retreat that involves a brusque handshake between soldiers from either side. The spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from both sides of the border, as well as international tourists.
In October 2010, Major General Yaqub Ali Khan of the Pakistan Rangers decided to end the ceremonial theatrics.